Audiobook Sample
Listen to the sample to experience the story.
Please wait while we verify your browser...
- Title: Lighthouse: Romantic Women’s Fiction
- Author: Jessie Newton
- Narrator: Jill Smith
- Length: 0.388946759
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 03-Dec
- Publisher: Findaway Voices
- Genre: Romance, Fiction & Literature, Contemporary Women, Clean & Wholesome, Sagas
- ISBN13: 9.78E+12
There’s something about the rhythm of the sea that calls to me, a restless pulse I’ve chased from the cliffs of Patagonia to the shores of Santorini. So when I stumbled upon *Lighthouse: Romantic Women’s Fiction* by Jessie Newton, narrated by Jill Smith, I felt that familiar tug—an invitation to lose myself in a tale of friendship, secrets, and the salt-kissed air of Five Island Cove. This audiobook experience, clocking in at just over nine hours, unfolded like a coastal road trip, each chapter a bend revealing new vistas of the human heart. As a travel writer who’s spent years listening to stories—whether from a grandmother in Oaxaca or through the headphones on a dusty road in Chile—I found myself drawn into this clean and wholesome saga with a hunger for connection that mirrors my own wanderlust.
It reminds me of a time when I was driving through the Atacama Desert, the surreal expanse stretching endlessly before me, listening to *One Hundred Years of Solitude*. The narrator’s voice wove magic into the barren landscape, and I felt as though I were sitting around a campfire with a wise elder. *Lighthouse* evoked a similar intimacy, though its setting couldn’t be more different—Five Island Cove, a fictional coastal haven where five childhood friends reunite after the death of Joel Shields, the husband of their beloved Kristen. Robin Grover, the steadfast local, rallies Alice, Eloise, Kelli, and AJ to honor a man who was more than a lighthouse keeper—he was a tether to their past. The story unfolds like a tide pulling back to reveal hidden shells: love rekindled with a high school crush, strength forged through personal upheaval, and secrets buried in the lighthouse’s weathered walls.
The themes here—friendship, family, faith—resonate deeply with me. I’ve sat on rickety porches in Oaxaca, listening to a grandmother recount tales of her youth, her voice pausing just long enough to let the weight of memory settle. That same oral tradition lives in Newton’s narrative, a celebration of women bound by history yet wrestling with their present. Robin’s determination to reunite her friends mirrors my own quests to bridge distances, whether physical or emotional. Alice’s escape from a suffocating marriage in the Hamptons hit close to home—I once met a woman in Lisbon who’d left a gilded life for the simplicity of a fishing village, her story echoing Alice’s search for air. Eloise’s quiet rebellion, buying a house in secret, felt like the hidden histories I’ve uncovered in my travels, while Kelli and AJ’s resistance reminded me of the stubborn souls I’ve encountered who guard their wounds like treasures.
Newton’s writing is a warm embrace, steeped in the sensory details of coastal life. You can almost taste the briny wind, hear the creak of the lighthouse stairs, feel the worn pages of Joel’s journals as the women peel back decades of deception. The plot hums with the gentle urgency of a summer storm—secrets about Joel unravel, threatening to fracture the group, yet it’s their collective vulnerability that binds them. Robin’s admission that her ‘perfect’ life is a façade was a gut punch, a reminder of the masks we wear even among those who know us best. As a storyteller, I admired how Newton wove these threads into a tapestry of contemporary women’s fiction, clean and wholesome yet unflinching in its emotional depth.
Now, let’s talk about Jill Smith’s narration—an absolute standout in this listening experience. Her voice is a compass, guiding us through the shifting tides of each character’s journey. Smith doesn’t just read; she inhabits. With over six women, five teen girls, a teen boy, and three men to voice, she’s a one-woman ensemble, each tone distinct yet harmonious. I’ve rarely heard a narrator capture so many souls with such precision—her Kristen carries the gravitas of a maternal lighthouse keeper, while AJ’s defiance crackles like a wave against rock. It’s the kind of performance that recalls those Oaxacan evenings, where timing and silence spoke as loudly as words. The audio quality is crisp, immersive, letting the story breathe without distraction. For anyone seeking a free audiobook that delivers both heart and artistry, this is a gem—check platforms like Audiobooks.com or Kobo for trial offers to snag it.
That said, *Lighthouse* isn’t flawless. At times, the pacing drifts like a boat caught in a calm—some listeners might find the buildup to the lighthouse secrets a touch slow, especially if they crave rapid-fire revelations. I didn’t mind; it felt true to the ebb and flow of real relationships. But for those who prefer a tighter saga, it might test patience. And while the clean romance and faith elements ground the story in hope, they occasionally lean predictable, lacking the raw edge I’ve encountered in messier tales of human connection.
How does it stack up? Think of it as a coastal cousin to Wendy Wax’s *Ten Beach Road*—both revel in female bonds and hidden truths, though *Lighthouse* trades sandy renos for a beacon’s mystique. Or compare it to Inglath Cooper’s work, where small-town heart meets personal reckoning, but Newton’s cast is broader, her focus more ensemble-driven. It’s a standout in the romance and contemporary women’s fiction genres, offering a listening experience that’s both soothing and stirring.
Who’s this for? If you love sagas of friendship with a side of clean romance, this audiobook’s your ticket. It’s perfect for a long drive—say, along Highway 1—or a quiet night with tea in hand. Fans of character-driven tales, especially those who savor the interplay of past and present, will find much to cherish. And with free audiobook options out there, it’s an easy dive into Five Island Cove.
Reflecting on it, *Lighthouse* left me nostalgic for the bonds I’ve forged on the road—those fleeting yet eternal connections with strangers-turned-friends. It’s a reminder that, like a lighthouse, we all seek a steady light amid life’s storms. Newton and Smith have crafted something special here, a story that lingers like the scent of sea salt on your skin. I’m already itching to explore the rest of the series, to see where these women take me next.
Until our next adventure, amigos,
Marcus Rivera
